Spring structure



C). G. FRANKS SPRING. STRUCTURE Filed March 30 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 llllllllllll Illlllllllll I||||Illlllmllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Illlllllllllll Illllllllllll lIIIIIIlllllllllllllllllllll lllllllIllllIlllllllllllllll lIllIllllllIllllllllllllllll Illlllllllllllllllllllllllll Illll||ll||llllllllllllllllll lllll\ll\lllllllllllllllHIlI| lIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllll\|l|IIIIIIllllllllllllllllll Il lli i-l-ml-l'n B5 IllllllllllllllllllllllllIIIIIIllllIIIIIIINHIIIIIIIIllllllll||I|||||lll -IIIIHIIIIIIIIIIII|IIIIIIII.lllIllllllllllllllllllllllllll f C5 BI El :wlmmmnmmil'g March 11, i924.; 3,486,574

o. G. FRANKS SPRING STRUCTURE Filed March so. 19'23 s sheetsfsheet 2 giiilllllllllllllllll B'\|llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll') attenua March 11, 1924, 4 1,486,574

O. G. 'FRANKS SPRING STRUCTURE Filed March 30 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f tllllnllllmllllllllllllllllmmmllllmmnl ll I IMI GUCCI. mm1

Patented Mar. ll, 1924.

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SPRING- STRUCTURE.

Application led March 30, 1923.

T0 all cti/wm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CRRIN G. FRANKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chautauqua, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and useiiul improvement in Spring Structures, ot which the following is a specification, reference being had to the a0- companying drawing.

My improvement relates particularly to such spring structures as are used for bed bottoms and for seats.

The object of the invent-ion is to produce such a structure in a form embodying a desirable degree of elasticity and durability and embodying a relatively small quantity oit material whereby light weight and economic construction are attained.

ln the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan of a spring structure embodying my improvement;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same structure Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same structure, parts being broken away;

Fig. a is an upright cross section on'the line, 4 4-, of Fig; 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the springs;

Fig. 6 is an end View of another form of the structure;

Fig. 7 is an upright, longitudinal section on the line, 7 7, oi' Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 8 is an upright, transverse section on the line, S-S, of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of thel arrow;

Fig. 9 is an upright section on the line, 9-9, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 shows a spring in a form different from that shown by Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is an end view similar to Fig. 3, excepting that the' lower frame, C, is made narrower, in order to adapt the structure to be applied to a support narrower than the structure Fig. 12 shows a structure similar to Fig. 1l, with transverse hangers applied to the side rails of a bed or similar structure and the spring structure being supported on said hangers;

Fig. 13 is an end view similar to Fig. 12, with the addition of transverse supporting bars combined with the structure;

' nal frame wires` A2.

Serial No. 628,902.

Fig. 14C is a horizontal section on the line, 14e-14, of Fig, 13;

Fig. 15 is an upright transverse section on the line 15--15, of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16` is a detail of a supporting bar.

In the form shown by the drawings, the structure includes three superposed, horizontal frames normally separated from each other by the springs. When downward pressure is applied to the upper frame, the springs yield and allow the frames to approach each other.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, A is the upper frame. B is the middle frame, and C is the lower frame. The structure is symmetrical, the upper and lower frames being alike, and the part of the structure at one side of the middle upright, longitudinal plane of the structure being like the part of the structure at the opposite side of said plane. During use of the structure, the upper and lower frames maintain their dimensions; but during use the width of the lower frame varies with the downward and upward movement of the up.- per frame and the middle frame, the middle frame becoming wider during suoli downward movement and again becoming narrower during upward movement.

The upper frame consists of a border wire, A1, and three intermediate, longitudi- The wire, A1, is bent to form a rectangular parallelogram. The meeting, ends or" said wire extend into a sleeve, A3. The wires, A2, have at each end an eye, A4, surrounding the adjacent part of the wire, A1. Tubular spacing members, A5, surround the wire, A1, between the wires, A2, and between said wires and the corners of the frame, A. Similar spacing members are also placed on the side parts of the wire, A, and on the wires, A1, the lengths of the spacing members on said side parts and the wires, A1, being adapted to the spacing ofthe springs from each other, aswill be described Jfurther on.

rihe llower frame, C, is a duplicate of the frame, A, and is composed of wires and eyes and spacing members, C1, C2, C3, C* and C, corresponding. respectively, to the parts, A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5, of the upper frame.

The middle frame, B, is a duplicate ot' the frames A and C, excepting that at each end of the structure the border wire, B1, is parted at the middle of said end, the ends abutting against each other, and a loose sleeve, B2, surrounding said ends so as to permity horizontal sliding of the ends in the sleeves, whereby the two halves of the frame, B, may move away from and toward each other, the movement toward each other ceasing when the ends of the wire, B1, abut.

On the frame, B, are two intermediate frame wires, B2, which are parallel to and between the outer intermediate wires, A2 andV C2. At their ends, the wires, B2, have eyes, B4, surrounding the border wire, B1. There is no intermediate wire, B2, between the intermediate wires, A2 and C2, in the middle, upright, longitudinal plane of the structure.

IVI-shape springs, E, connect the iframes, A, B and C, and support the trames, A and B, a-bove and on the frame, C. These springs are arranged in planes which are upright and transverse to the length of the structure. At the middle of each spring is an eye or loop, E1, surrounding one of the wires or bars, B1, of the frame, B. At the upper angle, the spring has an eye or loop, E2, surrounding one of the intermediate wires, A2, and at the lower angle the snring has a loop or eye, E3, surrounding the corresponding wire or bar, C2. At the outer end of the upper arm, E5, the spring has an eye or loop, E2', which surrounds one of the wires or bars, A1, of the upper frame, A. An eye or loop, EG, on the outer end 01' the lower arm, E7, surrounds the corresponding wire or bar, C2, oi the lower frame.

Along the upright, longitudinal plane in which lie the intermediate wires, A2 and C2, between which there is no intermediate wire, B2, on the middle vframe, the springs are directed oppositely, the springs at one side of said plane having the eyes, E2 and E3, in said plane and having the eyes, E, El and EG, engaging the intermediate wires which are next to said plane and in a plane which is parallel to the first mentioned plane.

The intermediate wires or bars, A2 and 2, between which there is no intermediate wire or bar. B2, are, for convenience, designated the primary intermediate bars, and the upright, longitudinal plane in which the primary bars lie is called the primary plane. For further convenience. the other intermediate bars or wires of the three frames are called secondary bars, while the upright planes in which those secondary bars lie are called secondary planes.

rlhe springs at opposite sides of and reaching into the primary plane are oppositely directed at opposite sides of said plane, the eyes, E2, engaging the primary bar, A2, of the upper frame, and the eyes, E2, engaging the primary bar, C2, of the lower frame, while the eyes, E2, E1 and E2, engage, respecticely, the bars, A2 B3 and C2, in the inserire nest secondary plane. Thus the arms, Es and E2, of these springs form the borders oit' a diamond-shape figure. Going toward the borders from the secondary planes reached by the springs which are applied to the primary plane as above described, the springs are positioned to correspond with the springs already described. That is to say, the springs are so placed as to direct the eyes, E2 and E3, toward the primary plane and to engage, respectively, the bars engaged by the eyes, E2 and E6, in the'above-mentioned primary planes, while the eyes, E4, El and E6, engage the wires in the next upright plane. In the form shown in the drawings, this plane is the plane of the border wires of the ripper, middle, and lower frames. lf the structure were wider, this engagement would be with the secondary bars of another secondary plane.

When the springs above described have been put inte position, they will be in a plane which is upright and transverse to the length of the structure. Other sets of said springs are similarly placed in transverse, upright planes crossing the structure dicrent places. Such planes are pre1- erably spaced from each other equal distances, such distances being adapted to bring into the structure the number of springs suited to give the finished structure the d'sired sustaining power coupled with the desired elasticity or resiliency between said planes, tubular spacing members, A5, surround the border wire, A1, and the intermediate wires, A2, and similar spacing members, B, surround the border wire and the intermediate wires of the middle frame and similar spacing members, C5, surround the border wire and theint-ermrdiate wires of the lower frame. The purpose of said spacing members is to give to the springs their positions on the wires with reference to the length of the structure,

Then downward pressure is applied to the upper surface of the structure sufficient to compress the springs, all the eyes or loops, El, of the springs are forced sidewise away from the upright longitudinal primary plane. This involves sidewise movement of the two halves of the middle frame, the meeting ends of the border wire, C1, of the middle frame sliding in the sleeves, C2, which loosely surround said ends. lVhen such downward pressure is removed, the springs resume normal position, whereby the frames, A and B, are moved into their normal positions. This involves movement of the two halves of the'frame, B, toward the upright primary plane.

The bed mattress or seat cushion is to be supported by the spacing tubes and the upper arms, E5, of the springs. I more such support is desired, the longitudinal tubes or' the upper frame may be divided lbf) insana/a and horizontally supporting links, A, having eyes or loops, A7, being placed between the spacing sections thus formed and eX- tending from one longitudinal wire frame to the other, the eyes or loops, A7, engaging said wires. Thusthese supporting links are in lines which are parallel to the transverse upright planes ofthe springs. Such supporting links are' shown on the left hand part of Figs;l 1 and '2, and in Fig. 9.

The tubular spacing members, A5, B5 and C5, are preferably made of coiled wire, as shown by the drawings, in order that desired thickness and a surface finish may be attained; for in the making of these tubes of wire, a wire may be used which has a bright and smooth surface which does not require enameling or other treatment toV produce a desired surface.

It is to be understood that the springs, D, are to' be of suitable thickness and strength and iexibility and are to be so spaced from each other as to' give the completed structure the desired strength and elasticity. The height of the springs is also to be varied to meet practical requirements. be understood that the frames, A, B and C,

are to be of any desired length and width and that any desired number of intermediate wires, A2, B2 and C2, may be used.

In the form illustrated by Figs.v 6, 7 and 8, horizontal coiled springs, B7, connect the intermediate frame wires, B3, at opposite sides of the upright, longitudinal primary plane, said coiled springs having eyes, B8, surrounding said intermediate wires; and such coiled springs are also substituted for the sleeves, B2, of the form shown by Figs. l, 2 and 3. The' spring, B7, surrounds the border wire, B1, and has its ends joined to' the intermediate wires by means of the eyes, BB. These springs, B7, resist the lateral .movement of the two sections of the middle frame, this resistance supplementing the resistance offered by the springs, E.

In Fig. 5, the loops or eyes, E1, E2 and E3, are formed Vby folding the wire. In Fig. 10, the spring is of the'same shape as in Fig. 5, excepting that the wire is crossed to form the eyes, E7, E2 and E3.

At times it will be desirable to apply this spring structure to a support which is narw rower than therupper surface of the structure. To adapt the structure to be so applied, the lower frame, C, may be'made narrower than the frames', A and B, as is shown in Fig. 11, the sides of the frame, C, resting on cross slats, S, which rest on bed rails, R, as -shown in Fig. 11 or oli-hangers, H, as shown in Fig. 12. In this form, the arms, E7, of theoutersprings, E, are made shorter than the upper arms, E5, of said springs.

In theform shown by Figs. 13, 14C, 15 and 16, the lower frame, C, is made narrow as in Fig;l 11, and hanger bars,` F, are" applied It is also to at the ends of the frames, B and C, the intermediate wires, C2, extending through apertures, F1, and the border wire, B1, eX- tending through eyes, F2, formed on upward extensions of said bars. Said eyes are made large enough to allow the border wire, C1, to move downward and outward during the downward movement of the middle frame. These hanger bars, F, may be flat metal bars placed in an upright plane with the ends turned to form the eyes, F2. Such bars may also be similarly placed intermediate the ends of the structure. The eyes, F2, and the side border wire are to rest on the side rails, It, of a bed or similar structure.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the middle frame, B, may be termed a divided frame or sectional frame, and that the primary plane along which that frame is divided may also be termed the division plane. It is also to be observed that the arms, E8 and E, of the springs fold and unfold somewhat after the manner of t-he folding and unfolding of the link members of a toggle, and that therefore this part of the structure may be said to be of a toggle-form.

I claim as my invention,

l. In a spring structure, the combination with an upper frame and a lower frame, of upright springs having their upper ends joined to the upper frame and having their lower ends joined to the lower frame and said springs being formed to cause sidewise movement between their ends during compression, the springs at each side of the upright primary plane of the structure being set to cause the said' sidewise movement to be away from said plane, and means located between the upper and lower frames at each side of said plane and joined to the springs, whereby the springs at each side of said plane are held for movement in uni- 44son, substantially as described.

2. In a spring structure, the combination of upright springs all having a middle V-form part transverse to two ofthe borders of the struct-ure, an upper frame joined to the upper ends of the springs, a lower frame joined to the lower ends of the springs, and middle frame sections joined to the angles of the' V-form parts of the springs, the springs to which one section is joined being directed away from the other section, substantially as described.

3. In a spring structure, the combination of upright springs all having a middle foldable part extending parallel to two of the borders of the structure, such foldable parts moving horizontally during downward compression of the springs, an upper frame joined to the upper ends of the springs, a lower frame joined to the lower ends of the springs, and two middle frame sections joined to the middle foldable` parts of the lil() springs, the springs to which one of the sections is joined being turned in opposition to the springs to which the other section is joined, substantially as described.

4. In a spring structure, the combination of an upper frame and a lower frame, and two middle frame sections, and upright springs joined to the upper and the lower frames and the middle frame sections and adapted to move said sections from each other during compression of the springs, substantially as described.

5. In a spring structure, the combination with an upper trame and a lower frame and a middle divided trame, ot' upright springs in planes transv -rse to the division plane of the middle trame and said springs having horizontal upper arms secured to the upper frame and said springs having horizontal lower arms secured to the lower frame and said springs having between said arms a folded part joined to one of the middle frame sections, the springs at one side ot the division plane being directed in opposition to the springs at the other side of said plane, substantially as described.

6. In a spring structure, the combination with an upper frame and a lower iframe and a middle divided trame, ot upright springs in planes transverse to the upright plane on which the middle plane is divided and the springs having horizontal upper arms secured to the upper frame and having lower arms secured to the lower frame and said springs having between the arms a folded part joined to the middle frame sections, the springs joined to one section of the middle trame being directedl in opposition to me springs joined to the other section of the middle frame, substantially as described.

7. In a structure of the kind described, the combination ot three superposed trames, the middle frame being divided along a primary plane, springs joined to said frames in a manner permitting downward compression ot the springs, the parts of said springs joined to the middle frame moving side4 wise during downward movement, the sidewise movement at each side of said plane being away from said plane, whereby Vthe middle plane sections move sidewise away from each other during downward movement. substantially as described.

8. In a structure ot the kind described, the combination ot three superposed frames, the middle ot which is divided along an upright primary plane, and lill-shape springs having one arm secured to the upper frame and having the other arm secured to the lower frame and having its middle part joined to the middle frame, the middle parts of the springs at each side of said plane being directed away from said plane, substantially as described.

nascere 9. In a spring structure, the combination with upper and lower frames, each comprising a border wire and intermediate wires, of upright springs having their upper ends joined to the upper frame and having their lower ends joined tothe lower frame and said springs being formed to cause lateral movement between their ends during compression, the springs at each side of the upright primary plane of the structure being set to cause the said sidewise movement to be away from said plane, and means located between the upper and lower trames at each side of said plane and joined to the springs, whereby the springs at each side of said plane are held for movement in unison, substantially as described.

10. In a spring structure, the combination with an upper frame and a lower frame, each comprising a border wire and intermediate wires, and two middle trame sections, of upright springs joined to the upper and the lower frames and the middle trame sections and adapted to move said sections from each other during compression ot' the springs, substantially as described. Y

ll. In a spring structure, the combination with upper and lower frames, each comprising border wire and intermediate wires, and a middle divided frame, of upright springs in planes transverse to the division plane of the middle frame and said springs havinghorizontal upper arms secured to the upper frame and said springs having horizontal lower arms secured to the lower trame and said springs having between said arms a folded part joined to one of the middle frame sections, the springs at one side of the division plane being directed in opposition to the springs at the other side of said plane, substantially as described.

12. In a spring structure, the combination Mof upright springs all having a middle V- form part transverse to two ot the borders of the structure, the upper frame joined to the upper ends of the springs, a lower frame joined to the lower ends ot the springs, a middle trame including a border wire divided at opposite borders ot the frame and sleeves loosely surrounding the meeting ends ot said wires and said frame sections being joined to the angles ot the V-torm parts of the springs, the springs to which one section is joined being directed away from the other section, substantially as described.

13. In a spring structure, the combination of an upper traine and a lower traine, and a middle frame including a border wire divided at opposite borders ot the` frame and sleeves loosely surrounding the meeting ends of said wires'and upright springs joined to the upper and the lower frames andthe middle frame sections and adapted to move said sections Jfrom each other during compression of the springs, substantially as described.

14. In a spring structure, the combination of upright springs all having a middle V- orin part transverse to two ot the borders of the structure, an upper frame joined to the upper ends ot the springs, a lower frame joined to the lower ends of the springs, middle frame sections joined to the angles of the V-'form parts of the springs, the springs to which one section is joined being directed away from the other section, and horizontal springs joining said sections and yieldingly drawing said sections toward each other, substantially as described.

15. In a spring structure, the combination of upright springs all having a middle toldable part extending parallel to two oit the borders oi the structure, such 'oldable parts moving horizontally during downward compression of the springs, an upper frame joined to the upper ends of the springs, a lower frame joined to the lower ends or' the springs, two middle frame sections joined to the middle oldable parts et the springs, the springs to which one of the sections is joined being turned in opposition to the springs to which the other section is joined, and horizontal springs joining said sections and yieldingly drawing said sections toward each other, substantially as described.

16. In a spring structure, the combination o1 an upper trame and a lower frame, two middle trame sections, and upright springs joined to the upper and the lower frames and the middle frame sections and adapted to move said sections from each other during compression et the springs, and horizontal springs joining said sections and yieldingly drawing said sections toward each other, substantially as described.

17. In a spring structure, the combination with an upper 'frame and a lower frame and a middle divided frame, of upright springs in planes transverse to the division plane o'l the middle frame and said springs having horizontal upper arms secured to the upper frame and said springs having horizontal lower arms secured to the lower trame and Said springs having between said arms a folded part joined to one ot' the middle trame sections, the springs at one side of the division plane being directed in opposition to the springs at the other side of said plane, and horizontal springs joining said sections and yieldingly drawing said sections toward each other, substantially as described.

18. In a spring structure, the combination with an upper 'frame and a lower frame anda middle divided frame, of upright springs in planes transverse to the upright plane on which the middle plane is divided and the springs having horizontal upper arms secured to the upper `frame and having lower arms secured to the lower frame and said springs having between the arms a folded part joined to the middle trarne sections, the springs joined to .one section ot' the middle trame being directed in opposition to the springs joined to the other section of the middle frame, and horizontal springs joining said sections and yieldingly drawing said sections toward each other, substantially as described.

19. In a spring structure, the combination with three superposed frames, the middle frame being divided along an upright primary plane, of springs arranged in toggle form relative to said plane, the upper parts of the toggles being joined to the upper frame and the lower parts of the toggles being joined to thelower frame and the middle parts of the toggles being joined to the middle frame sections, the toggles joined to one of' said sections being directed in opposition to the toggles joined to the other section, and horizontal springs joining said sections and yieldingly drawing said sections toward each other, substantially as described.

20. In a spring structure, the combination of an upper frame and a lower frame and two middle frame sect-ions, means yieldingly joining the upper frame and the middle sections and the lower frame and tending to separate said sections horizontally during downward pressure on the upper frame, and horizontal springs joining said sections and yieldingly drawing said sections toward each other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine, this 26th day of March, in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-three.

ORRIN G. FRANKS. 

